Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future I will reintroducing legislation introduced as Senate Bill 628 in the 2011-12 Legislative Session. This legislation would amend the Acupuncture Registration Act of 1986, Section 3.1, relating to medical diagnosis and Section 3.2, relating to Liability Insurance.

Currently an acupuncturist may treat a person’s condition without the condition being diagnosed by a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist for 60 days from the date of the first treatment. Beyond 60 days from the date of the first treatment an acupuncturist may treat a person’s condition if the person obtained a diagnosis of the treated conditioned from a licensed physician, dentist, or podiatrist.

This legislation would allow acupuncturists to treat persons who do not present any symptom of a condition without physician diagnosis beyond the current 60 days allowed under law. In addition, the legislation requires acupuncturists to obtain and maintain a level of professional liability insurance coverage in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence or claims made. It also allows the board to take action for noncompliance.

The board is permitted to accept as satisfactory proof of insurance any of the following: self-insurance, personally purchased liability insurance, or professional liability insurance provided by the licensees' employer of similar coverage acceptable to the board.

This legislation was cosponsored last session by Senators Fontana and Stack.

If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please contact my office at 787-1349.